An Epidemic of Anti-Semitism? Not So Fast

Although there is ample reason to fear rising manifestations of anti-Semitism in the U.S., writes David E. Bernstein, there is in fact little reason to believe that hostile attitudes toward Jews have risen dramatically. He cites a recent study by the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) as evidence:

While belief in stereotypes about Jews remains widespread, the ADL found that only 11 percent of American adults believed in six or more of the eleven stereotypes tested—a tie for the lowest percentage ever. By contrast, the first year the ADL undertook this study, the figure was 29 percent. So much for the constant refrain from the ADL’s Jonathan Greenblatt and others that we are living through “the worst period of anti-Semitism in the United States since the 1930s.”

Now, I admit that ADL methodology is far from perfect, but it does provide a basis for comparison, and there has been no spike, or even an increase, in anti-Semitism because of Donald Trump or anyone else. The problem of anti-Semitism in the United States is a problem of the far-left and far-right fringes, and the way social media, technology, partisanship, and the decline of media gatekeepers have allowed them to have a much louder voice. These fringes need to be isolated; the Trump administration shouldn’t be giving discretionary media credentials to far-right anti-Semites, and Bernie Sanders shouldn’t be allying with Linda Sarsour, Rashida Tlaib, and company. And of course better security and preemptive work by law enforcement is needed to stop what does appear to be a spike in anti-Semitic violence.

But for those who thought that the U.S. was heading toward the sort of commonplace, mainstream anti-Semitism prevalent in some European countries, you can breathe a sigh of relief, at least for now.

Read more at Volokh Conspiracy

More about: ADL, American Jewry, Anti-Semitism, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump

The Mass Expulsion of Palestinians Is No Solution. Neither Are Any of the Usual Plans for Gaza

Examining the Trump administration’s proposals for the people of Gaza, Danielle Pletka writes:

I do not believe that the forced cleansing of Gaza—a repetition of what every Arab country did to the hundreds of thousands of Arab Jews in 1948— is a “solution.” I don’t think Donald Trump views that as a permanent solution either (read his statement), though I could be wrong. My take is that he believes Gaza must be rebuilt under new management, with only those who wish to live there resettling the land.

The time has long since come for us to recognize that the establishment doesn’t have the faintest clue what to do about Gaza. Egypt doesn’t want it. Jordan doesn’t want it. Iran wants it, but only as cannon fodder. The UN wants it, but only to further its anti-Semitic agenda and continue milking cash from the West. Jordanians, Lebanese, and Syrians blame Palestinians for destroying their countries.

Negotiations with Hamas have not worked. Efforts to subsume Gaza under the Palestinian Authority have not worked. Rebuilding has not worked. Destruction will not work. A “two-state solution” has not arrived, and will not work.

So what’s to be done? If you live in Washington, New York, London, Paris, or Berlin, your view is that the same answers should definitely be tried again, but this time we mean it. This time will be different. . . . What could possibly make you believe this other than ideological laziness?

Read more at What the Hell Is Going On?

More about: Donald Trump, Gaza Strip, Palestinians